OLD Media Moves

Surprise, but Murdoch may clash with WSJ editorial page

August 6, 2007

Posted by Chris Roush

Although it seems as if News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal‘s editorial page are similar in political preference, they may soon clash after he completes his acquisition of parent Dow Jones & Co., writes David Carr of The New York Times.

Paul GigotCarr wrote, “Mr. Murdoch tends to favor those in power, which is not how it is done on the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal. I am only a casual reader of the page, but I get the sense that the people who drive the discussion there would rather set themselves on fire than break bread with anybody named Clinton.

“More practically, what about China? Mr. Murdoch’s history of accommodating the regime when it comes to issues like free speech will clank hard off the editorial page’s iron-fisted campaign against the government there.

“Should Mr. Murdoch end up meddling in the rarefied club that is the editorial page, Mr. Gigot can seek appeal to the so-called special committee and any findings will be published on the editorial page. If Mr. Murdoch were then to run roughshod over the committee as well, it could seek relief in the courts, according to the agreement that is part of the deal.”

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